Latest California Healthline Stories
NIH will award $19 million over four years to UC-Irvine’s Institute for Clinical & Transitional Science. Dan Cooper, director of the institute, said the funding will go toward efforts “to expedite the process from basic [scientific] discovery to actual clinical application.” Orange County Register.
Health Program for 9/11 Rescue Workers To Expire
A deadline to extend funding for a federal program that provides health care and financial compensation to rescue workers who responded to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks has passed, meaning the programs will expire unless further action is taken. While programs can continue through 2016, they must begin winding down before the scheduled expiration date. The health programs will begin transitioning in the summer and officially shut down on Sept. 30, 2016. The closure will effectively end the programs’ health care services, medical monitoring and research tracking first responders’ health. Roll Call‘s “Hill Blotter.”
34,400 Jobs Added to Health Care Industry Last Month
The health care industry added 34,400 new jobs in September, according to a Bureau of Labor Statistics report released Friday. Of the total health care jobs added to the industry last month, 15,500 were added in hospitals and 12,900 were added in ambulatory health services. Meanwhile, 6,800 jobs were added in physician offices, 6,000 were added in nursing and residential care facilities, 2,700 were added in outpatient care centers and 2,500 were added in home health services. Experts have credited the job growth to the Affordable Care Act. Becker’s Hospital Review, Modern Healthcare.
California Health Care Personnel Roundup for September 2015
Gov. Brown has appointed Lindy Rose Harrington as deputy director of financing and Adam Weintraub as assistant deputy director at the California Department of Health Care Services. Chris Willrich has been named CEO of Bay Health, a joint venture between UC-San Francisco Medical Center and John Muir Health.
Bill Would Subsidize Calif. Farmworkers’ Health Plan for Five Years
A bill by state Sen. Richard Pan would provide funding for the United Farm Workers’ health plan for five years and help it comply with Affordable Care Act standards. The plan does not meet ACA standards because it caps annual benefits at $70,000. The bill has been sent to Gov. Brown. Los Angeles Times.
California Children Often Face Waits for Mental Health Care
California children in mental health crises often face days-long waits in emergency departments before being sent to a mental health care facility that sometimes can be hundreds of miles away. Experts say these waits and long distances can exacerbate kids’ mental health issues. Modesto Bee.
Reed, DeMaio Plan To File Two New Ballot Initiatives That Aim To Reform Public Pensions
Former San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed and former San Diego council member Carl DeMaio plan to introduce two new ballot initiatives to overhaul public pensions that will take “a totally different approach” than previous pension reform efforts. DeMaio said that if state Attorney General Kamala Harris uses certain language to describe the initiatives, supporters will have “the evidence we need” to win a lawsuit over her descriptions. Sacramento Bee‘s “The State Worker.”
Brown Signs Bill To Provide Mental Health, Substance Misuse Treatment to Former Inmates
On Friday, Gov. Brown signed a bill that calls for the creation of the Second Chance Program, which will provide mental health and substance misuse treatment to former inmates. Overall, the program aims to reduce recidivism among the state’s prisoners. Los Angeles Times‘ “PolitiCal.”
2016 Exchange Plan Premiums To Rise by 4.4% in 14 Major Cities
A new Kaiser Family Foundation analysis finds that average premiums for silver-tier health plans sold through the Affordable Care Act’s exchanges in 14 major cities will increase by about 4.4%. However, Los Angeles will see a 5% decrease in average premiums in 2016. The Hill.
HHS Unveils New Disaster Preparedness Information System
Last week, HHS launched a new information system that will allow health and emergency preparedness professionals to find and share documents to help prepare for and respond to disasters. The system includes an assistance center, an information exchange and technical resources covering a wide range of topics. FierceHealthIT, HHS release.